Palestinian officials openly admit: We won’t stop paying terrorists

Paying terrorists and their families is “a clear national duty that cannot be compromised,” PA official Issa Qaraqe says • PLO Executive Committee member Ahmad Majdalani: Issue is not subject to U.S.-Israeli extortion • Payments were $322 million in 2016.

The Palestinian Authority has no intention of suspending payments to terrorists and their families, a new report by the Middle East Media Research Institute has found.

The Palestinian Authority spends millions of dollars annually paying stipends to the families of terrorists who are either jailed in Israel or were killed while carrying out terrorist attacks against Israelis, a practice Israel has repeatedly condemned.

In 2016, the Palestinian Authority’s payments amountedto 1.15 billion shekels ($322 million) — 7% of the Palestinian Authority’s total budget for salaries and about 20% of the foreign aid it received.

Ramallah officials told the Palestinian daily newspaper Al-Quds that U.S. Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt was told that the Palestinian Authority would not change its policy, as it may create a “breeding ground” for terrorism.